Mel Tillis went to elementary school in Plant City, Florida, about 12 miles from where I live. He had very humble beginnings. I talked to several people who knew him personally and they all told he was a real, genuine good person as well as being a great song writer and singer.
I know people who knew him personally when he was growing up in Plant City, Florida and he was very good to his mother and his family after he made it big. One of his first appearances was on a home town radio station, WPLA right after he got out of the Air Force. He never forgot his roots.